The Nazi Mascot

Almost all his life Alex Kurzem has kept a lonely secret.

Born in Koidanov in the Minsk region of Belarus in 1935, he emigrated to Australia at 15, married and raised a family in Melbourne.

His sons grew up listening, spellbound, to their father's poignant, though light-hearted, wartime tale: of how, as a five-year-old pigherd, he became separated from his peasant family and had to fend for himself for months in a forest before being found by a kindly Latvian family who brought him up.

It was little more than a fairy story: the truth of Mr Kurzem's early life was, in fact, even more extraordinary and so brutally shocking that he had all but obliterated it from his memory.

The reality was that as a five-year-old boy he had witnessed the massacre of his fellow Jewish villagers, among them his mother, baby brother and sister. Kurzem escaped into nearby woods where he survived by scavenging and stealing clothes from dead bodies, until he was found and handed over to Latvian police, who "adopted" him as a mascot.

When the battalion changed its identity to that of a Nazi SS unit, it had a miniature uniform made for Kurzem, complete with the SS insignia and a full-length black leather coat and pistol. He was paraded for newsreels and newspapers as ''the Reich's youngest Nazi'' and taken to the Russian front with his squad.

The whole time, the young Kurzem was frantically trying to hide a secret that would have meant certain death for him: he, too, was a Jew.

There he witnessed atrocities. He saw rapes, murders and massacres of Jews, and on one occasion was forced to fire his pistol at a Jewish teenager captured by the soldiers, as the unit rampaged across the country. On another, he had to watch the slaughter of 1,600 Jews who were herded into a synagogue at Slonim.

The whole time, the young Kurzem was frantically trying to hide a secret that would have meant certain death for him: he, too, was a Jew. He watched atrocity after atrocity, unable to show the slightest compassion for those of his own faith.

His commandant was Karlis Lobe, a notorious Latvian Nazi responsible for the slaughter of tens of thousands of Jews. Mr Kurzem is unsure, but suspects that the unit was responsible for the slaughter of his family.

Still, when the war ended the child had no choice but to speak up for Lobe: the man who had sadistically murdered so many of Kurzem's countrymen had also protected him and ensured his survival while all around Jews were dying in massacres, in concentration camps and in the gas chambers.

Today, Mr Kurzem is a grey-haired man in his seventies. He believes himself to be 72, though is uncertain of his exact age. His lined face and pained expression are testament to his torturous past.

Until a decade ago, he kept his solitary secret. Then, one night in 1997, no longer able to live with his nightmares, or his sketchy memories, he began haltingly to pour out the true story to his son Mark.

He gave a statement to the Holocaust Commission but, to his horror, it dismissed his tale, saying it could find no trace of the massacre in his home village, and going so far as to suggest he was a collaborator who was complicit in Lobe's war crimes.

"I was devastated," Mr Kurzem says. "During those terrible years with the SS I could trust no one. My own people, the Russians, despised me because I wore the Nazi uniform. I was terrified the Nazis would discover I was Jewish.

"Lobe was a monster, but he saved me and survival was all I had. I had to keep so many secrets that secrecy was a way of life. And then, to find that my own people didn't believe me when I finally told my story, was heart-breaking."

But Kurzem's son was determined to discover the truth. Painstakingly, over the past 10 years he has investigated his father's past. Finally able to verify it all with documents and pictures, the Holocaust Commission has reversed its decision and Mark has now written a powerful book, The Mascot, revealing his father's remarkable and horrific story.

THE MASSACRE

His first clear memory is of October 21, 1941, the day his family was slaughtered.

Kurzem, of course, is not Alex's real name: that was the name given to him by the soldiers. He now knows he was born Ilya Galperin. His first clear memory is of October 21, 1941, the day his family was slaughtered. The day before his father and the men of the village had been shot.

That night two soldiers broke in and beat his mother. Once they departed, leaving her bloodied and bruised, she told her eldest son: "We are all going to die tomorrow." She knew the massacre of the Jewish women and children would be the next morning.

She told him he must be brave and help her with his brother and sister. That night the young boy awoke thinking: "I don't want to die." In his nightclothes he fled, stumbling through pits filled with the bodies of the Jews shot the day before. In the morning he awoke to the sound of screams. From the tree in which he was hidden, he saw women and children, weeping in terror, being lined up in front of newly dug pits.

"If only I had not looked," Mr Kurzem says softly. But he did. In front of him he saw his mother and siblings among those waiting to be shot. "I could see soldiers forcing people down the hill, using the bayonets. Then I saw my family. I wanted to call out. I wanted to go to her, but I couldn't. The soldiers shot my mother. They put the bayonets into my brother and sister. I had to bite my hands to stop myself screaming."

As he recalls his family's deaths, Kurzem grows pale and his hands tremble. "People have asked me why I didn't take my brother and sister with me when I fled, but I had no idea where I was going. I was just a child myself. Then, to see them murdered. I did not want to watch but I could not look away. I felt I owed it to my mother. If she could bear to endure it, then surely I should bear to watch and be with her in my heart."

Kurzem was in the woods for about nine months. He ate berries and dragged the great coat off a dead soldier. "What I remember most is the terrible cold and the constant hunger. And being so very alone," he recalls.

Of "ARYAN" APPEARANCE

On July 12, 1942, he was found by a local who was not a Jew and handed over to the Latvian soldiers. Lined up along with others to be shot, he knew he had to take any opportunity. While others cowered, he ran to the soldiers, begging on bended knee for bread. His antics amused them and one, a Sgt Kulis, took pity on him and dragged him out of the line. He decided to clean up the filthy little boy and bathed him. When he saw Kurzem naked, he saw he had been circumcised and realized that, although the child was fair haired and of "Aryan" appearance, he was a Jew.

"I will never know why he saved and protected me," Mr Kurzem says. "But he did. He warned me no one must know or it would be certain death for us both."

Before long the little boy, now about six, had become the Latvian SS's famous mascot. In his uniform he was feted before the Führer, filmed keeping charge of German children ("Me, a Jew.Had they but known," he says incredulously) and taken to the Russian Front.

"I hated the soldiers' brutality, their inhumanity. But I don't deny that, as a little boy, I at times loved being the center of attention. I was doing it to survive. To please them. But all the time I was terrified they would discover my real identity and I would also be shot for my faith."

Kurzem witnessed the infamous Slonim massacre in which 1,600 Jews were burned alive.

It was at the front that he witnessed the infamous Slonim massacre in which 1,600 Jews were burned alive. "Soldiers were prodding people into the synagogue, then they hammered wooden planks across the doors and windows. They put bunches of burning sticks and branches against the building and in a flash it caught fire. The flames spread quickly and then terrible wails began. Women and children broke out, running into the road in flames. No one helped them, they burned where they fell."

On another occasion, the soldiers used the young boy to lure local girls to their camp where they savagely beat and raped them. And when the unit was used to round up Jews for the cattle trains to the death camps, Kurzem, resplendent in his uniform, was given the task of handing out chocolate bars to lure them inside.

"They were smiling, they thought it a kindness. I didn't know where these trains were going but I had heard enough of the soldiers' talk to know they were going to despair and death."

In 1944, as the tide of the war started to turn against the Nazis, Lobe sent Kurzem to live with a Latvian family who bullied him into writing an affidavit exonerating Lobe. Before long he was receiving anonymous hate mail from Jews who knew the truth of Lobe's atrocities.

A NEW LIFE

Terrified, he booked a working passage to Australia aboard the SS Nelly, late in 1949. "I just wanted to start a new life, away from all the memories that I wanted to lose." His only luggage was a battered brown suitcase in which he kept photographs and documents of his past life. He took odd jobs, one of them with a circus. Eventually, he set up his own carpentry business and set about assimilating himself into his adopted country. He never, he told friends, wanted to return to Eastern Europe. He told his wife, Patricia, and his children nothing of the truth of his past.

Then, that night in 1997, he could keep silent no longer. Since then, he and his son have travelled to his home village many times. He found pictures of his parents under the wardrobe of his old home and, when he summoned the courage, stood by the tree from which he had watched his mother and his siblings murdered.

"Finally, after all this time, I have been able to lay a rose on the grave of my mother," he says, smiling at the memory. "But when I stood at that spot, as a grown man, where I saw her die so bravely, I still had to cram my fist in my mouth to stop screaming."

Mr Kurzem is silent, his eyes moist. "Should I have been standing there with her, holding her hand? Holding the little ones? I have tortured myself with this. But one thing I know: my mother would have died desperately hoping I had survived."

Visitor Comments: 114

This book is not by Olga Craig, it is by Mark Kurzem, the son of Alex Kurzem, the boy in the book.

(111)
Richard,
January 29, 2013 9:49 PM

If you're a Jew, never forget the Hatred that Germany had for us. And DON'T LET GERMANY FORGET IT EITHER!!
THEY WIL NEVER, EVER, LIFE IT DOWN. GERMANY'S PLACE IN WORLD HISTORY IS WRITTEN IN BLOOD.

(110)
ruthhousman,
January 29, 2013 8:51 PM

places of sheer brutality & terror

I could read only parts of this and find myself increasingly looking for silverlinings. There is the eternal wailing why that sends me forever to the Wailing Wall and yes, in my way I put G-d on trial.

(109)
Gavreil,
March 21, 2011 8:40 AM

Truth is stranger than fiction, so I have read, and the story of this person's suffering is incredible. As a boy, I had no family, and would make up stories about having parents and brothers, until I came to actually realize I believed in the fantasies of my own making. I have thought about some of the terrible things having happened to me, and the manner in which I was used for whatever purpose others desired and their depravities regarding regarding a young boy. So yes, I do understand Alex Kurzem's life, and his survival, because I too survived, and later in life to accept Judaism, because it brought into my life a wonderful change. One of the horrible sadness in our present time is the depravity of childen continues, and regardless the scope of it, it should not still be happening.

(108)
Ady,
March 11, 2011 12:29 PM

Shear Terror

This would have been shear terror for this young boy at such a young age. How he survived those first nine months is beyond me, except to say that HaShem must have had his hand in this, this I have no doubt. To those of you that pre-judge this boy / now a man, watch out. This person had a job to do, and that is why HaShem through his spirit moved him to act right there and then, for his survival but more importantly, for the survival of His people. Could you imagine how difficalt it must have been for this young boy to firstly sever his ties with his family let alone witness the murder of his mother and his siblings and of course the rest of those of the village, and then to remain silent so as not to expose himself and thus be murdered as well. It is through such survivers that we hear of the atrocities that the nazis did in those years of the holocaust. Yes we must remember for our own safety.

Anonymous,
January 16, 2012 12:59 AM

I came here to say this

You just said it better.

(107)
Anonymous,
February 8, 2011 5:41 AM

What's Wrong with This Picture?

If you watch The Mascot documentary and read the book you will find a gazillion inconsistencies. If you read more than one version, you will find that his biography varies depending on the audience. If I wrote my autobio it would be one story no matter what language it was told in.

Anonymous,
January 29, 2013 8:01 PM

To Anonymous

If what you're suggesting ithat what this gentleman is saying is only fiction of his imagination or he is just making thing up just because his writings are inconsistent I believe you are wrong to say it. Perhaps as he is writing no matter in which language he does it more memories are remembered. It isn't that Kursem's life was a limited number of pages and a plot previously written to be exact. Remember he was only 5 years old when our memories are just starting to be barely memorable. I find that your comment is a deep offense to him who suffer perhaps just as much as you did or more. I hope you'll make amends with your self and praise this gentleman's memories. I for one find it to be a miracle of strength of spirit. Bless him be and you.

(106)
Yehudis Silverman,
December 21, 2010 4:56 AM

both articles moved me to tears. Both men r heros

this is the first time I have gone to your site. Ihave freinds who work for Aish. May Hashem blessall of you and i will be back

(105)
sonia,
December 21, 2010 2:41 AM

he was such a little boy.

How can anyone have expected anything more of this poor child? He was only 5, for goodness sake.

(104)
B. Ariel Cohen Ph.D.,
December 15, 2010 12:58 AM

With much compassion and admiration for this great man

It is very good that you survived in any way possible. I become so angry at those who do not understand actions compelled by torture, and seek to vilify those so victimized. In the community of survivors of child sex trafficking it is the same--perhaps the writings of those survivors may bring some affirmation and comfort about what is really true.
Those who died while we were helpless and forced to betray our highest values live on in us when we are free and make good choices. And the Knower of Secrets, Yodeiah Taalumot, will know what is true and will shelter us--and those who died as we watched helplessly--tachat kanfei haShekinah.

(103)
Anonymous,
December 14, 2010 6:34 PM

Never forget !

We must always remember

(102)
Shoshana,
December 14, 2010 4:06 PM

A dilemma

Is survival paramount or trying to save a life? Alex was just a tiny child a the time, but if an adult had asked a halachic question, what would a rabbi say? Did he do right in being quiet and saving his own life or should he have cried out although it would not have helped, but only gotten him killed?

(101)
Anonymous,
December 13, 2010 5:17 PM

The horrors that our people have lived thru and survived,and gone on to live productive lives - who is like your children Hashem?

(100)
Ross B.,
December 13, 2010 2:42 AM

I am surprised, yet understand

The reason I can understand, is that The boy didn't have a snowball's chance of winning a fight; yet I am surprised that he didn't do what he could to save his mother and siblings. Do you follow my logic with this?
When up against an adult, how can a pre-teen or even a young teen, be expected to be a valid opponent?
Now, if you multiply the adult times the thousands of them in Hitler's Armies during the Nazi realm, it becomes fully understandable! My reason for stating the last is that it would then leave him available and able to submit facts to the Allied side of the war.
In turn, this would increase the amount of FACTUAL information revealed to the ('Free) World."
The more we know about what happened under given circumstances, the more we can teach. And remember: "History is a process of repeating mistakes." If we have the wherewithal to understand the dilemma(s), then we can teach it to a youth in schools -- who will / may become our future leaders!

(99)
Grace Fishenfeld,
December 13, 2010 1:46 AM

To Hell and Back

Terror makes a chid learn many lessons. This child learned his lessons in survival. It is no wonder that he continued to lie about his identity. He learned that lying is not wrong. He learned that nothing was more important than his life, so he learned how to make friends with murderers. Still another lesson he learned was that he enjoyed the attention paid to him by scoundrels. Even when he witnessed their wrong doing, he remained complacent . He learned to pretend that his disguised self was likable and so he lost his identity. As a lost soul, he had to redeem himself. For this we are glad. It is now apparent that he is in sorrowful pain. He may not mention the word for the state of tshuva because he may not know it. It is apparent that he is sorry and that he is searching for forgiveness. He is no longer the Mascot and an enemy of Jews and he never was. He was a five year old boy who was trying to survive in the face of impending death. May he find peace and regain his nashuma. He has already been in Hell

(98)
Anonymous,
December 13, 2010 12:01 AM

At time all one can do is the best thing that will allow them to survive. Do not have guilt, if you did not survive the world could not know your story.
It frightens me to think that some day the Holocost may be forgotten.

(97)
michael,
December 12, 2010 7:34 PM

Thank you for telling your story

As painful as it is, the world must be continually reminded. There are so many today who doubt that the holocaust ever happened and many who will tell the lie because they cannot handle the truth that the Jews are God's chosen people. They cannot bear a God that they do not control!

(96)
Anonymous,
December 12, 2010 7:30 PM

difficult to believe

I have heard many stories. There was a European movie about a Jewish boy that was shuttled to Nazis and then to Soviets, don't recollect the name at this time.
This could have hapenned but many Jewish boys lost their lives because they were recognised as Jews due to the circumcision. After the war there were many Jewish boys who were not circumcised because of that fact. My brother was one of them..... He was circumcised later in life when we emigrated from Poland to Canada.
My entire family was wiped out by the Nazis with the colaboration of the Poles. My parents survived in a slave lobour camp in Czenstochowa Poland. My father was a machinist tool and die maker and my mother was a seamstress working on Nazi uniforms

(95)
Tone Lechtzier,
December 12, 2010 6:45 PM

The Nazi drug... [Raye]

Shalom,
was methamphetamine, synthesized at
Sandoz laboratories in Switzerland in 1936.
Top Nazi scientists collaborated with Sandoz
scientists. I have studied the holocaust and it
seems likely Hitler was wired as well. People
that take it for it's "high" have no idea that it is
a evil mind control drug, and the "high" is the bait. Meth is the most destructive drug in existence, and played a major role in the deaths of 11,000,000 people.
Blessings ~ B"E

(94)
Anonymous,
December 12, 2010 5:39 PM

Through so much pain, you are redeemed. Hashem, I truly believe, always has a plan. Some suffer more than others, some live and some die... it is still suffering. The human condition without such hatred and hideousness is precarious enough. That you survived is a blessing. You have a family that loves you.

(93)
Anonymous,
December 12, 2010 5:24 PM

Bless you and your family for speaking out - we are searching for some information from the shoa for 4 years and can't find it yet

People should be encouraged to speak out because many Jewish soals are still searching for their family from the shoa and if more people would give information, more Jewish soals could be saved. May Hasem help us and others who are still searching...

(92)
Anonymous,
December 12, 2010 5:00 PM

Testimony

Being a witness is as important as carrying a gun. My late mother was a frail woman but she gave "EDUT" in a trial of a Nazi with a dog who terrorized Jews in Poland during the holocaust. Her perfect knowledge of the Polish language and politeness saved her ,and also gained the respect of the Judge who had the Nazi executed by hanging. She did not know how to use a gun but her weapon led to the same outcome. Justice!
You are a brave man Mr. Halperin. This is your name you know!

(91)
ruth housman,
December 12, 2010 4:26 PM

to carry a terrible secret

This is truly one of those stories that is harrowing and I feel for the child who was witness to such atrocities, and who wound up in a totally untenable position. A position that is truly within the bounds of nightmare. I am happy this secret, is now out in the open, because it is corrosive to carry such pain, within, and not tell, and not bear witness to what must have torn him apart. He wasn't murdered by the Nazis but this is a story of soul murder, a terrible ongoing sorrow, that is beyond comprehension.
Life has such earthquaking faults, and this one, took a long time to come out. Peace be with you! Maybe if this is a story, then somehow this story has not come full circle, because I feel, a G_d of love has not forsaken any of us, and perhaps, for the sake of a far greater story, we are bringing the sparks together, and will together become emergent and conscious of something far greater than we could ever have imagined, a story that ultimately must turn on love itself. Could it be, it's not over, when it's over?

(90)
raye,
December 12, 2010 3:30 PM

Nazi Narcotics?

Was there some secret ingredient fed to the nazi soldiers without their knowledge that turned them into beasts? Surely, they could not have gone to such extremes over night despite their training. I heard of some who commited suicide rather than follow Hitler.

(89)
Anonymous,
December 12, 2010 1:45 PM

Memoru wipe out

I too am suffering with memory wipe out, While running away with my father, we came across a little town town in Poland, where the Nazis were herding Jews into a Synagogue, I watched it burn with many Jewish men screaming the Shema, as the bulding burned down. We were hiding in a barn, nearby.

(88)
eva,
December 12, 2010 9:21 AM

What a story! How do you live with those memories?? May Hashem give you strength to bear it. You sound like you were a brilliant child, to have handled yourself that way at such a young age!

(87)
Kaitlyn Blankenship,
December 12, 2010 9:20 AM

Thank you so much.

Your bravery of finally telling your story is greatly apprecianted and I believe your mother would have wanted you to survive through the atrocity to be able to tell others of what has happened in order to help prevent another horrific event like the Holocaust. Thank you

(86)
Diane,
December 12, 2010 9:20 AM

GOD BLESS YOU

Your pain is felt by many. God Bless you and your dear family.

(85)
Diane Verhagen,
December 12, 2010 9:19 AM

To Latescia

I just want to tell you that even white people are persecuted for one reason or another. I know it from personal experience, being referred to as white trash when I was growing up. If it makes you feel better, I have many black friends and I love them dearly. My opinion is that just as God made many beautiful flowers of different colors, he did so with people also. Try not to let the ignorance of some who are predjudiced get to you. You know what you are in your heart. Much love to you!

(84)
SAMUEL JOSEPH,
December 12, 2010 9:19 AM

YOU ARE VERY BRAVE!

YOUR MOTHERS PRAYER LIVED! SHE KNEW YOU WERE ABSENT FROM THE LINUP! KUDOS FOR YOU! YOU ARE NOT ALONE! STAND TALL,YOU DID THE RIGHT THING AS A CHILD AND I NOTED YOU ARE NOT HITLER YOUTH!

(83)
summer,
December 12, 2010 9:18 AM

i am sorry about what you had to go threw i am glad u where brave enough to share your story god bless

(82)
Debra,
December 12, 2010 9:18 AM

Incredible story

I have read about the Holocaust and am amazed at how much more there is to tell. Thank you for your courage in revealing your story so we all can see how horrible this time in histroy truly was.

(81)
Oren K. Teel,
December 12, 2010 9:17 AM

I am a Southern Baptist preacher. Your story touched me deeply. I hope you have no guilt by what you did. Thank God you survived to tell the story. Your mother would be proud of you.

(80)
Nancy,
December 12, 2010 9:17 AM

you were saved to tell your story

Tosay that the Hlocost never happened is ignorance and they say ignorance is bliss. Both my parents lived in Holland at the time of the war and my Mom told us that Her Father had a radio in their home and that someone who wanted food told the SS. they came to my Grandfather's home but never found the radio.

(79)
Neil,
December 12, 2010 9:16 AM

No one can imagine the agony you have suffered.

How can anyone be so arrogant as to say that the Holocost did't happen when there are people who witnessed it? You will be forever in my prayers.

(78)
Lillie,
December 12, 2010 9:16 AM

Know that you are loved

I'm a Gentile, but my love for the Jewish people everywhere has always been a strong and steadfast part of my life. You are God's chosen, the apple of His eye, and He loves you so much. Though I have never met you, I hold you in my heart, and I pray that you will know above all else, above the past, above the memories, that you are so very deeply loved for who you are.

(77)
David Miles,
December 12, 2010 9:14 AM

Bin there

As a surviver i can anderstend you

(76)
Amy,
December 12, 2010 9:14 AM

thank you for telling your story

I cannot begin to imagine the pain you have suffered. I am so very sorry! I am a Gentile, but I have always believed the Jews are God's chosen people. I believe God allowed you to survive for a purpose. Maybe through your witness others can learn from the past and teach those who are ignorant what hate can do if it is not stopped. I pray that everyone learns from your story and the countless others from the Holocust. Hate is the greatest evil and it must be stopped!

(75)
Susan,
December 12, 2010 9:13 AM

Please Accept My Hug

How difficult, how painful, how confusing it must have been for you. The Holy One, blessed be His name, provided a way for you to survive. We need to hear your voice. We need to listen to your heart-felt testimony. We need to remember. May the Almighty continue to bless you and your family.

(74)
Vera,
December 12, 2010 9:13 AM

IÂ´m so sorry for your loss: your family and a happy childhood. I believe God gave you wisdom to hide, stay hidden and ask bread from the soldiers, because He meant you to survive and tell the truth to the generation of growing anti-semitism and denial of Holocaust. You are the eye witness, whose testimony no clearly thinking person with heart canÂ´t deny. God gave you strength to bear the terrible times. God bless you and your family!

(73)
Latescia,
December 12, 2010 9:12 AM

deepest sorrows

I just want to say that you have my deepest sorrows. I know that It may be a little to late, but I'm hurt about what happen to the jews,Indians and Blacks. I'm a black woman, and It's hard even today. With God on our sides we still end up comming up on top first.May God keep blessing us.

(72)
soraya,
December 12, 2010 9:11 AM

i dont know what i would have done...it was a very sad story!

(71)
Crystal Thorne,
December 12, 2010 9:10 AM

I wish societies would simply learn from history.

(70)
Anonymous,
December 12, 2010 9:10 AM

It was truly a touching & sad story!

great detail and my regards to Alex!

(69)
BUG,
December 12, 2010 9:09 AM

how very very sad

how very sad, I THANK GOD I AM ANAMERICAN, I BARELY REMEMBER THOSE DAYS, I HAVE READ AND HEARD ABOUT IT IN MY LIFE TIME, BUT GOD BLESS THIS PERSON.

(68)
Anonymous,
November 7, 2010 5:04 AM

Only God has the right to judge

No one should condemn this man. Judge not lest you be judged. I'm almost finished reading this book. I only have compassion and prayers for this man .

(67)
bill,
March 2, 2009 7:54 PM

The joke is on the Nazis

A story of the courage of a small boy and his will to survive after having witnessed terrible atrocities and severe emotional trauma. The story now been told by an old man no longer that small boy and now reconciled with his past and able to tell the story is a testament to the human spirit.
A wonderful story.

(66)
Jeff,
February 23, 2009 12:54 AM

Disgusting

The fact that Kurzem didn't have the courage to speak up about this until his twilight years is despicable. This man is no hero, but rather a coward. Had he spoken the truth after the war he could have assisted in the arrest of many notorious Nazis. Most disappointing is he essentially denounced his religion after the war. Now, of course he has come full circle. Disappointing, but more disgusting.

(65)
ian james,
July 22, 2008 11:26 PM

great

thanku mark 4 telling story of your dad .i enjoyed it very much and maybe when my children r old enough thry 2 will read it. ian austtralia 23/7/08

(64)
Alex,
January 3, 2008 12:31 PM

NOW WHAT, ALEX(ILYA)?

What you gonna do about it all?You want to get even with your Family killers? You want to be able to sleep at night? Wonna face your Maker one day with Dignity and Integrity? Wonna be a Mench to your children/grandchildren?

MAY YOU LIVE LONG AS A JEW, MAY PEACE GROW IN YOUR TROUBLED MIND. MAY AT THE END YOU AND YOUR DEEDS BE KIDUSH HASHEM, NOT THE OTHERVISE..

(63)
Galia Berry,
December 26, 2007 9:40 PM

Read the book!

Intrigued by this article and subsequent readers' comments on aish.com, I borrowed The Mascot from the public library. Having read it (and trust me, you won't be able to put it down until you've read it from cover to cover),I fully intend to buy this book and make it a permanent part of my collection of Holocaust testimonies/autobiographies. The amazing providence in Mr. Kurzem's search for his true identity is truly jaw-dropping, exciting, nerve-racking and haunting. For all of those quick to judge the tragic life of a 5 year old child determined to survive, I would urge you to read the entire book, and not jump to conclusions gleaned from a few paragraphs retold in an article that's been hugely abridged from the book.

(62)
Daniela,
December 26, 2007 10:19 AM

To Anonymous 12/20/2007 2:56:00 PM :

No, his wife and children are not Jewish.

(61)
pam R,
December 23, 2007 5:35 PM

Interesting story

It is always tragic to read about the suffering and atrocities committed against the Jews during the Holocaust. This was an extremely disturbing account and means of survival. It was a little hard to understand how such a young boy could survive 9months in the woods. But then how can I understand. I know he had to do what he had to do to survive. He was young and really his concience and understanding of morality and even spiritual matters was not developed and then corrupted by the Nazis. So, I do not worry about this story in any way but to believe it was his destiny to live to tell this story. But why did he wait so long? Why, even after the war and he was so far from it did he continue to deny who he really was? That would be a story I would like to hear from him. He married into Christianity which he was part of during the war. Why did he really forsake his Jewish heritage?

(60)
Michael,
December 22, 2007 6:12 PM

As a child of survivors I have grown up carrying a share of my parents burden.My parents shared their stories with me (and my sisters),I feel,to help lighten the load they carried.Through this I've always felt a residual experience of my own-as if a part of me was there. This is all something that was always difficult for me to speak about.Thank you for telling your story-by allowing me to read yours-you help me with mine.

(59)
Ma. del Consuelo R. de Sabre,
December 22, 2007 10:53 AM

Alex Kurzem

What I see is that Mr. Alex Kurzem is a hero. His mother died hoping that her child will be in God's hands. And, He did live with a purpose.

(58)
Anonymous,
December 21, 2007 12:14 PM

Everyone needs to read this story

What a horrific story. I'm glad he had the courage to tell it as everyone needs to forward this story onto someone else. It's the least we can do for those poor souls is to tell what really happened to them.

(57)
susannah garbutt,
December 21, 2007 7:27 AM

survival and peace

My heart goes out to this man, who has witnessed unspeakable atrocities, all the time living in terror - he was just a child - I truly hope he can find peace - or at least relief and ease of his mental and emotional agony. Please I hope he does not blame himself - he was just trying to survive. The ones to blame for all the suffering of WW2 in Europe, Middle East and North Africa are the Nazis alone - this man was as much a victim of their tactics of terror as everyone else. Peace be with him - he is forgiven, let him beat himself no more.

(56)
don muntean,
December 21, 2007 5:49 AM

G-d bless Mr Kurzem

G-d bless Mr Kurzem...his courage is beyond understanding - such evil things to witness and for a small boy nonetheless - I pray that G-d bless him and may those that are responsible for this genocide stay in hell - forever.

(55)
Anonymous,
December 21, 2007 1:54 AM

Not A Hero Yet

This was a disturbing story in many ways. There is no mention of tshuva, kaddish for his parents and siblings, l'ilui nishmat for them and others. He has been haunted by his guilt in "collaborating" with the nazis' brutal rapes, murders, etc. He, himself, killed a teenager. He doesn't deserve a "kiss on your forhead" response for revealing his past. His mother didn't say to him "go, my son, live." She told him that he must be brave and help her with his small brother and sister, which he did not do. He, himself, qustions whether he did the right thing by not staying with his mother and small siblings, holding their hands, being united, giving his help and comfort. He was about age seven in 1942 when he was a mascot first for the Latvians. There are thousands of Jewish survivors, who were small children during the Shoah and who suffered starvation, beating, deaths of family, BUT who remained completely loyal to the Jewish people and their sense of Jewish identity and who did extremely brave and courageous acts to save their brethren and others. Telling his story is not the solution to his guilt. He should confide in a rav and get advice on how to do complete tshuva for his past misdeeds, and how to strengthen his Jewish neshama and make a new commitment to the Jewish people. He is not alone. There are many survivors who harbor similar guilt feelings, but in their later years have completely returned to their Jewish roots and become observant Jews. Mr. Kurzem can do the same. Then we can admire his pintele yid and noble decision. I wish him succees in his search for his Jewish identity and a new loyalty to the Jewish people.

(54)
Christy,
December 20, 2007 8:22 PM

My heart goes out to you.

I have four little boys and my oldest is five years old. When I think of him doing the things you did at his age I just ache with compasion and fear for you as a little boy. No child should haev to go through what you did. Your mother must have been with you in spirit and kept you safe through all that. May you live in peace through your golen years.

(53)
esty g,
December 20, 2007 5:01 PM

he did what he could to survive.i dont dare judge him, for i dont know what i would have done in his shoes.how remarkable that he stayed sane. it is a shame that after everything he went through, he has no jewish children to continue his family's legacy.

(52)
Greg,
December 20, 2007 4:29 PM

Whew!!

I dearly loved this excerpt and my heart goes out to this man. I am a 56 year old man, and it brought tears to my eyes. I am sure that Mr. Kurzem's mother looks on him with love and compassion. I also know that Elohim has kept Him in His arms all these years.Shalm

(51)
Anonymous,
December 20, 2007 2:56 PM

Jewish wife

Very tragic and sad story. But I must wonder about the wife's name Patricia. Is she and his children Jewish?

(50)
Aaron Saylor,
December 20, 2007 11:39 AM

Amazing

I find it amazing that in all these years you were able to keep your sanity and still have a belief system. HaShem must have given you something that other people don't have.

(49)
Loretta Harvey,
December 20, 2007 12:52 AM

My heart broke for you

Dear Mr Kurzem, As I read your story my heart broke, first for that little boy, and then for the grown man you are. May the One who sees all, repay you and the millions like you who suffered so much. Shalom my brother and thank our Heavenly Father for bringing you safely to our country.

(48)
Aya,
December 19, 2007 1:39 PM

Eretz

I can't stop crying, reading this story. I think of my family, my children...There is only one thougth bearing on my mind...Eretz is the only place for Jewi to live. God bless you, dear mensh.

(47)
Anita,
December 19, 2007 10:21 AM

A kiss on your forehead

I think of my little five year old,.. So much sadness and tears fill my sole knowing there was and are so many children being abused and force to abuse. I want to more tears, tell heaven to came to all who suffer and love. No more tears in heaven to come.

(46)
Dolores F. Coira,
December 19, 2007 10:17 AM

Your mother is proud of you...

It was the Eternal that make you just survived, so the whole world can confirmed the atrocities by the Nazis. If I had been your mother I would have been very proud of you. You are blessed, Shalom.

(45)
terry damm,
December 19, 2007 1:47 AM

a wrenching witness to inner truth

... the pain of such truth, even the reading of it, decades and cultures and continents removed. The reality of the degradation and the darkness of the human heart - that we are capable of such abominations. And that we are also able to bear such pain and retain such memories, conferring such dignity and worth upon the human spirit. You are a miracle and a testament of hope, sir - and the abundant fulfilment of your parent's hope in their investment in life. His blessings upon you and His grace upon us all.

(44)
Julie Ritchie,
December 18, 2007 11:56 AM

Forgiveness sets you free!

llya did as his mother asked- survived!The hand of G-d was with him-only 5 years old!. I recently found out my mother's family is Jewish. They hid it for many years- out of fear. My mother didn't even know! We must have a heart like G-d's - forgive, ask G-d's forgiveness, and forgive ourselves. IIya , you are blessed, chosen child of G-d! Shalom

(43)
Anonymous,
December 18, 2007 11:30 AM

Now make your mother happy...

What an amazing story!!! You must have been a very smart little boy!!!Hopefully you will encourage your offspring to do good deeds, strengthen their Jewish roots and say kaddish so your mother will have nachas from you up there!

(42)
T. Ted Aron,
December 18, 2007 11:20 AM

B"H That you are alive to testify to the Holocaust commited!!!

It is not for any of you to judge this man's survival. G-d had ordained this man's survival of the Holocaust and his chance to offer his testimony as witness to the atrocities commited. Not one of you out there are exempt from possibly doing anything of a nonrighteous nature to have saved yourselves from the murderous Nazi's during the Holocaust. He will do Tshuveh in his own way if he feels he had done wrong and he will do Tehkun Olam in the way G-d had ordained him the time to do. I wish him peace in this life and the next.

(41)
Inna,
December 18, 2007 10:40 AM

Amazing

Thank you, Alex, for having the courage to share your story after so many years of trying to forget the pain.

(40)
Yaron Salmen,
December 18, 2007 10:13 AM

brave survivor.

No blame is due to this man. He was a very brave little survivor. G-d knows it was murderous for an adult to experience all this terror, but for a small child of 6/7 its a miracle that he is still here to tell this story. This story that tells us also that there were nazis who werent totally heartless. Many lessons can be learned here for the future. And the present too, i imagine.

(39)
Howard Rifkind,
December 18, 2007 9:29 AM

Wonder, Touching, Brave

A wonderful story, not a story an event in history, a very brave man who, I hope will some day be with his family in heaven.

(38)
Alice,
December 18, 2007 8:41 AM

too much pain

I don't think ill of this man and wish him the best. Because the Holocaust happened so recently, I think it's fair to expect people to read this story and have a very negative emotional response to his actions. It's irrational to do so as the man was only a child and WAS NOT responsible for his actions. But the Holocaust caused such immense damage and pain that it's irrational to not expect people to be, well, irrational about it.

(37)
Gary Herzberg,
December 17, 2007 11:30 PM

Sharing ones past no matter what

My most heartfelt thanks to Ilya and all survivors like him who remind us of our past and present at the same time. His suffering is nothing compared to mine, yet I feel a kinship with him. Thank you Ilya for trying to help us become better human beings by sharing your past so honestly. It must have been hard for you to share this part of your life with us.I have no evidence yet, but i will keep looking for the truth of our jewishness. I dont believe it is faith but definetly race. Otherwise why my feeling that i too have lost a part of my family. I feel for you as if you were a part of me. Respectfully yours Gary Herzberg.

(36)
Susan E Weinberg,
December 17, 2007 10:07 PM

Touching Story

I have no idea what I would have done if I were in his shoes. I wonder if I would have survived. But he DID and that is the point here. G-d has us live through such things in our lives. The harsh and unfeeling comments made by those individuals judging his story evidently didn't have any hardship or tragedy happen to them, as like having a handicapped child or a death of a child. I've had both and understand his story. We both know we will never know why we have been chosen to endure such hardship until we will stand before G-d.

(35)
Suzanne Guenoun,
December 17, 2007 9:29 PM

Mr. Kurzem is a courageous man.

I have tears reading Mr. Kurzem's story. I am happy he lived to tell it.

(34)
b,
December 17, 2007 8:38 PM

Poor man ,And some beasts out there deny these killings

I feel your pain , somewhat, You probably feel it 1.000.000 times more , May Hashem (god) avenge the blood of your family , and the sweat ,and blood , and cold, and psicolofical torture that you had all these years . You definetly did the right thing to run away!!!

(33)
Anonymous,
December 17, 2007 8:14 PM

How could you say that?????

I found this story touching, and I am sickened by the way a few people responded. Like other people pointed out, he was a very small child, frigtened and scared. Also, putting all the facts aside about that he was terrified, and unwilling to do this, he did nothing wrong according to halacha. you should be ashamed of yourselves.

(32)
Deborah,
December 17, 2007 7:53 PM

empathy

I feel so much for this man; what he must endure each and every day. It's unimaginable and yet it happened. Mostly, I want to express compassion to Mr. Kurzem and salute his courage when he was a little boy, a growing man and now coming forward with his story.

A second note, hindsight is very clear. Take a second to contemplate being a very young child, losing your family in an instant and focusing only on survival (probably living minute to minute). No one knew the extent of what was to happen, certainly not a little boy. No one knew! Much like Sept. 10th. No one knew! He was surviving! Think about it.

(31)
Miriam,
December 17, 2007 12:36 PM

Hashem answered your Mom's prayer

B"HWho am I to judge you... I'm allowed you to judge only positivly... Which is harder that just talk. What have I done or not in your position? I learned, as somebody else pointed it out already, that Hashem answered your Mom's prayer to save you that day from being brutally killed at least phisicaly.

(30)
Daniela,
December 17, 2007 12:23 PM

negative comments

It's very apparent that the people who posted here these unfair comments didn't read the whole article. They obviously just skimmed through it. If either of them are reading this, I urge you to read the article again.

I also wanted to say although I understand the psychology of needing to continue to keep all of this a secret, it's a pity that it resulted in Mr. Kurzem marrying a non-Jew (I know this from a documentary about him) and therefore having non-Jewish children. The best ending to this tragic story, the best way to get back at the Nazis, would be for any of his children to convert and marry Jews so they can have Jewish children.

(29)
Marilyn Ha,
December 17, 2007 12:11 PM

You Survived to Preserve History

I don't know how to express my deep sadness over the Holocaust. You survived to preserve history. You were saved to verify that you lived it, and it all really happened. There are many who are trying to say it didn't. My prayer is that you feel no guilt. The preservation of your experiences and story is an assurance of the preciousness of those million who did not survive. They did not die in vain. Thank you for sharing what you safeguarded deep in your heart for these many years. If you had died too, your story would have been lost to us, and all the future generations. Those who died did not die in vain. The story of the Holocaust must never stop being told.I am so thankful you survived. I grieve all those who didn't.I am a Christian homeschool mother of 5, and we spent one whole year studying WWII and the Holocaust, and continue our learning. As we learn more we become more one with the pain of our our dearly beloved Jewish brothers and sister, and sincerely miss the millions who are lost to us all! Thank you again for sharing. SHALOM

(28)
James Kendall,
December 17, 2007 11:04 AM

My Gosh

The world is a cruel and terrifying place. What is the point of this story? It is that he lived...he suffered..he survived and now we can learn a moment of true uniqueness.

(27)
Donna,
December 17, 2007 10:37 AM

my mother would have died desperately hoping I had survived."

HaShem kept you alive for a reason. Maybe it was so you could tell the world the truth about what YOU SAW. It's never too late to tell the truth about what happened. You need to forgive yourself. With all I know about what happened, I didnt know this - so your life has served a GREAT PURPOSE if only for me - May HaShem bless you, now and always.

(26)
Eliana,
December 17, 2007 9:32 AM

Compassion

Have you no compassion? You can not possibly know what you would have done to survive. He was not a man. He was a boy. He lived for his people and the future of his family. He is the only seed of his Mother and Father to make a future. Please dont judge the brother who was there for you where not. Thanks to Hashem our people LIVE. And He is one of them...

(25)
Tammy,
December 17, 2007 9:31 AM

What a sad , sad story.

Kurzem was just a child, desperately trying to survive. We can never impose our own sensibilities on the desperation and the fear that he lived with at the time. This is a sad and sorry story that demonstrates another aspect of the horrors of the Holocaust.

(24)
Anonymous,
December 17, 2007 9:07 AM

I found the comments posted here so insensitive to this mans story - heartless.

I cannot believe how horrible this story was. The fact that he was not believed by the holocaust commission and then for people to post there sickening, insensitive comments on here for him to see?? After having been through something many people wouldn't even have the STRENGTH to endure...to come out and share this and for some social retard to comment and say that "he wouldn't have done the same????" Or Chris's comment..."why is this story on AISH???" It frightens me that these people have NO SHAME and are heartless to post such things after a man had gone through all these horrific events. In truth, this is the REAL problem and why we are in the exile to begin with...WE just don't get it and G-d is going to keep us in exile until we do...G-d forbid.

(23)
Anonymous,
December 17, 2007 8:45 AM

Sad

keep in mind - he was a baby!!

(22)
Ira,
December 17, 2007 7:51 AM

What would you haev done as a five year old?

While it on the surface seems morally repugnant to think about, what would you have done as a five year old? Look at your children and think how they would have made out in the woods for 9 months at 5 or 6 years old.

I am sure that while many of his memories now are clear, at the time a boy that age would have been deeply influenced by those around him. Think of Patty Hearst and others who after short times sympathized with their captors, and their situations in no way compare with the barbaric situation this child was thrown into.

(21)
David,
December 17, 2007 7:32 AM

sad but true

What can i say except I understand what you did but I dont know how you can still live with it. I dont think I would have done the same.

This man actively participated in getting his brethren onto the Auschwitz cattle cars -- and we are proud of that?!? Why is this despicable story on Aish.com???

(18)
Benjamin Peleg,
December 17, 2007 3:29 AM

Unbelievible and discusting

As a Shoah surviver from Holland it is hard to imagine the murders, rapes etc. in Eastern Europe.In Holland we weretold all kind of fairy tales.I cannot believe the story of this gentleman a lot of questions araise in my head, like being a Jewish boy he for shure had a Brith-Milah.How can you see your brothers being slautherd and be passive even as your own live is on stake.All together a strange story, giving me a bad feeling.

(17)
Beverly Kurtin,
December 16, 2007 11:41 PM

Sir, I salute you.

You have nothing to be ashamed of. You did what I would have done given the same set of circumstances.

Why more Jews did not choose live is beyond me.

Please, for the sake of all that is holy, forgive yourself, hold your head up high, and live the rest of your life in honor.

I am proud of what you did, and I salute you for making the hard choice to live and not die a senseless death.

(16)
Andy,
December 16, 2007 7:53 PM

have not read much more tragic than this .God works as they say mysteriously

Seemingly, how cursed was this kid. Better to have been killed I would think. I for sure don't blame him for anything and may have done the same or worse. At the risk of sounding heretical it seems to me his tests were greater than those of the patriarchs.It is hard to imagine going thru this and believeing in a God who is all good and all just.

(15)
Anonymous,
December 16, 2007 5:23 PM

Legacy

His mother's wish was answered by Hashem, who spared his life. Now, he is her legacy, his whole family's legacy, and through his children and grandchildren his family will live on as Jews. This is a marvelous testimony to the grace, love, and goodness of Hashem!

(14)
Kip Gonzales,
December 16, 2007 3:02 PM

He did the right thing.

Mr. Kurzem did the right thing. I can understand how he has been tormented by the tought that maybe he should have stood by his mother. In Auschwitz, a woman who had arrived and been selected to work (and live) saw a crying child. She went over to take the childÂ´s hand and accompany her to wherever they were directed, and suddenly one of the "Kanada" prisoners, those who gather up the belongings of the arrivals, came up and violently tore her hand away from the child, hissing, "Get away from the child!" Puzzled and shocked, she let go of the childÂ´s hand, and the child was loaded onto a truck to be taken to the gas chambers. The prisoner had only tried to save the womanÂ´s life! The woman had a guilty concience for years for having let go of that childÂ´s hand, bur she herself survived! That was good that at least she lived, just like Mr. Kurzem.These people didnÂ´t know what was about to happen, and they can of course mourn those who died, but to live is a mitzvah! They didnÂ´t save their lives at the cost of someone else; they just lived! The best revenge is to do just the opposite of what the Nazis wanted for them. They should live long and good lives, rejoicing in their offspring and bringing them to love the Almighty.

(13)
Steve Goldstein,
December 16, 2007 2:59 PM

A terrible test

We must never judge those who are in such a terrible situation. But on the other hand, I wonder if we should be heralding his participation in luring girls to be savagely beaten and raped, or handing out chocolate to lure Jews into trains to the death camp. This bothers me very much.

(12)
Marilyn,
December 16, 2007 2:24 PM

who will remember this? What? is the lesson ?

B"H Is there a message here? Why? did this happen? Why? many of us ask this question of G-d or others will ask 'where was G-d'... the question should be directed to question our own selves...P.S. all this didn't take place so long ago..it didn't take place in pre historic times..it did take place in a society(s) that were civilized/educated. When anyone brings this up...they are many times pushed down as 'stop being such a cry baby..stop pushing in the Holocaust' ..and as you see here..even the Holocaust Commission saw this story as 'unacceptable' etc...they needed proof... This account truly pulled at my heart...you see, I was a little child at that time in the USA..but I understood Yiddish..I would over hear my parents obm 'whispering'.."za shtill..ober d' kent hairt" (be quiet..least the child hears) We all must never forget what happened ..we all must never stand quietly every again.but who will remember?

(11)
Anonymous,
December 16, 2007 1:45 PM

I am just about to turn 80y, and in childhood was oft mistaken as arian. I have my own experiences of survival, and can fully relate to Mr Kurzem's narrative and concience, tho dissimilar there still runs an echoing parralel. I have sought my peace with the Almighty every yom Kippur.

besiyata d'ishmaya

(10)
Janice Zuliani,
December 16, 2007 1:43 PM

Brave Child

How DARE anyone ask why a 5 year old little boy did not think to take his siblings with him! Only a Nazi would not understand why this child did what he did. Shame! Thankyou Mr Kurzem for telling us what happened and how you survived this terrible thing that I can not begin to understand. I look forward to reading this book. JZ

(9)
Anita,
December 16, 2007 1:43 PM

How do we know?

This is one of the most uplifting things I have read. God bless you Mr Kurzem!

(8)
ruth housman,
December 16, 2007 12:22 PM

a comment on a comment, my second comment

If, to quote a writer below, Hashem perhaps spared this person to tell this gruesome story, then there must be an assumption somewhere, that Hashem was capable of stopping the entire story and did not. This is The Wailing Wall I am speaking about in my first comment. Follow the logic and you will hit a stumbling block. We all do. Let's make this clear.

(7)
ruth housman,
December 16, 2007 12:14 PM

the depths of despair

I had trouble reading this because the atrocities were so vivid and so terrible. I have trouble reading all literature, all personal accounts of The Holocaust, just as I have trouble with the world today, having just finished One Thousand Splendid Suns. I go to the wall, meaning the Wailing Wall, on these things. If there is an answer it must lie in the paradoxical nature, the bipolar nature of all life and the extremes of cruelty, of such depravity cannot be justified in my mind unless somehow there is a far vaster story and it comes out all right in the end. Otherwise I would be an atheist, like my son. And yet I am seeing something far deeper, more profound and perhaps what is hidden will one day become apparent and we will move further forward into the light.

(6)
Anonymous,
December 16, 2007 11:38 AM

Amazing

This is one of the most amazing stories I have ever heard. My heart goes out to him.

(5)
Mel Berger,
December 16, 2007 11:21 AM

today's deniers

Let those who still deny what the Nazis did be forced to read these accounts over and over again until their hearts bleed with the truth.

(4)
Scc,
December 16, 2007 10:36 AM

Alex Kurzem's secret

I cried reading this story. He had to live to tell the story. He did the best he could. It's not his fault. I am a Jew and glad you survived!

(3)
Mitch,
December 16, 2007 9:33 AM

Touching story

I was touched by the story of the terrified, starved little boy doing what he had to in order to survive. I wish Mr Kurzem the best life possible!

(2)
Charles B,
December 16, 2007 9:15 AM

Just one of many fantastic stories from the Holocaust

It is amazing that this man is still alive and sane. What he endured would have been enough to put anyone else in an institution to be tortured and tormented by those horrible memories.Indeed, God works in wondrous ways to preserve witnesses to the inhumanity that was visited upon the victims of the Third Reich. Anyone who denies that these awful things happened deserve to be locked up in institutions and forced to listen to the nightmares of those who were victims of the terror of those days.

(1)
Anonymous,
December 16, 2007 7:20 AM

Who shall live and who shall die.......

How does one judge a 5 yr. old left to fend for himself in a very cruel world ?The cruelty and insanity of the holocaust makes me wonder how any survivor could emerge and attempt to live a normal life. It's obvious that Hashem spared this person to tell his very gruesome story.

I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

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